Christian dating site user pleads to felonious assault

YOUNGSTOWN

A 46-year-old Boardman man has pleaded guilty as charged to felonious assault in an Aug. 28, 2015, attack on a 45-year-old Boardman woman, who said he inflicted permanent injury to her right hand and threatened to kill her.

Thomas P. Ferrara, of Huntington Drive, pleaded guilty to the second-degree felony Tuesday before Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who will sentence him at 10:30 a.m. July 12.

Although the law allows a sentence up to eight years in prison and a fine up to $15,000 for this offense, the prosecution is recommending five years’ probation for Ferrara and that he be required to pay $25,000 in restitution to the victim in full for her medical bills before he is sentenced.

In a separate civil lawsuit, which is pending, the victim said Ferrara had marketed himself on a Christian dating site “as a good and peaceful person,” but he attacked her at her residence after she told him their dating relationship was over.

Read more about the case in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.